Fenwick High School girls swimming coach Renee Miller knew this was going to be a rebuilding year for the Friars. A great senior class led by state champions Mimi Schneider and Paulina Kaminski graduated after leading the Friars to third place at the state finals, the program's third consecutive state trophy.

The Fenwick High School football team's bid for a state championship in the Class 7A playoffs came to end Saturday with its 28-10 loss to visiting Libertyville. Senior running back Pat Donahue rushed 25 times for 82 yards and added a four-yard touchdown reception to lead the Friars offensively. Quarterback Jack Beneventi completed 18 of 34 passes for 151 yards with a TD pass an interception.

Six senior student-athletes from Oak Park and River Forest High School and two sisters from Fenwick High School all signed their national letters of intent this week. Here's the list of Huskies and Friars who will compete in a sport at the Division I collegiate level next year.

Fenwick senior Olivia Ryan earned all-state recognition for the fourth straight season at the Class 3A state finals in girls cross-country held at Detweiller Park in Peoria over the weekend. Ryan, who finished 18th in the individual results, ran a time of 17 minutes, 16 seconds to lead the Friars to a 18th place finish in the team standings. Freshman Anne Mannion (82nd/18:04) and Nicole Finn (123rd/18:24) also ran well for the Friars.

I had an epiphany recently. Three things converged. I visited Amsterdam and saw how a bike-centric city operates. I saw a TV program about maintaining a healthy heart that recommended 30 minutes of exercise per day, and the U.N. came out with another doomsday report on climate change, finding that unless we end the use of fossil fuels by the year 2100 we will commit global hari kari.

Pat Donahue has been the best and most consistent offensive threat all season for the Fenwick High School football team. The senior running back showed his worth yet again during the Friars' 31-14 win over Carmel in the second round of the Class 8A playoffs Saturday in Mundelein. Donahue rushed 38 times for 177 yards and a touchdown to propel Fenwick to the quarterfinals of the Class 7A state playoffs, the fourth time in school history the team has reached the Elite 8.

OPRF lost 39-15 to host Barrington in the opening round of the Class 8A playoffs. The Huskies struggled on both sides of the ball in their season finale as the Broncos racked up 475 yards of total offense and controlled the time of possession. The Huskies finished the season 7-3, highlighted by a 5-0 start and notable wins over Lincoln-Way East and Lyons Township.

The Lyons Township High School boys cross-country team earned the fifth and final spot at the Class 3A Marist Sectional, advancing teams to the state meet on Saturday, Nov. 8 at Detweiller Park in Peoria. The Lions scored 120 points to finish ahead of Oswego (154 points) to punch their ticket to Peoria.

Led by state title contender Olivia Ryan, the Fenwick High School girls cross country team finished fourth at the Class 3A Niles West Sectional on Saturday. Ryan came in fourth in the individual results as well with a time of 17:19. Freshman Anne Mannion (13th/18:10) and sophomore Nicole Finn (27th/18:30) also turned in solid runs.